R.I.P Coal, Canada’s Last Surviving Parliament Hill Cat

Coal, with the Centre Block building in the background. 

                   Credit -Danny Taurozzi

Coal, the last surviving member of a colony of cats that thrived for decades outside Canada’s Parliament and became popular with tourists, has died. He was believed to be 17. As a kitten Coal joined as many as three dozen cats who lived in crude shelters vaguely resembling the neighbouring Centre Block building of Parliament. Over time a spay-and-neutering program had reduced the group to just four cats, including Coal. All were adopted, and the colony was dismantled.

Coal had a very eventful life; he met with the Dalai Lama, appeared on a Japanese television network’s game show, had his own Facebook page and even ran for Prime Minister.

The cat shelter on Parliament hill

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